The Much Maligned Aye-aye   by Marissa Ellis-Snow

in Travel    (submitted 2012-02-01)

One of the strongest selling points of a Madagascar wildlife holiday is the opportunity to spot creatures that don't live anywhere else in the world. The island's isolation has made it a splendid sanctuary for a number of species that evolved along their own path. Often these creatures are shining examples of ingenious evolution, where nature used different ways of solving problems, sometimes filling niches with unlikely candidates. One of the finest examples of this is found in the north of the island, where a primate has developed to fulfil a role normally played by a bird in other parts of the world.

Aye-aye

One of the most enigmatic animals that you may encounter during your Madagascar wildlife holiday is the Aye-aye: a small, alien-looking lemur that has gained a somewhat unfair reputation. One of the most notable facts about the Aye-aye is that it has evolved to fulfil the niche occupied by woodpeckers elsewhere in the world. The Aye-aye feeds by tapping on the bark of trees to find grubs; once it locates its prey, it then gnaws a hole in the bark and uses its greatly elongated middle finger to pull out the grubs.

Victim of Superstition

The Aye-aye is nocturnal, making it somewhat elusive to spot during a Madagascar wildlife holiday. Arranging your trip with an expert wildlife tour company that utilises the aid of a local guide should help improve your chances, but it is a sad fact that one of the places that you are likely to see one of these unique animals is hanging from a post outside a town or village. Although already classified as near threatened, the Aye-aye is unfortunately traditionally considered a bad omen by those living in rural parts of the island. This fear might be attributed to both the strange look of the creature, and the fact that it seems very bold around people - not exhibiting the timidity of many of the country's other animal inhabitants. Because of this, and a suspicion that the creatures have a murderous intention, Malagasy locals will sometimes kill the creatures on sight and hang them on the village boundary in the belief that passing travellers will carry off the evil spirit as they pass.

Getting Your Eyes on the Aye-aye

If you want to see this mysterious animal during your Madagascar wildlife holiday, then it's best to enlist the services of a guide with knowledge of the creature's movements and head to the reserves of Masoala in the north of the island. By joining up with a small-sized group and following an expert guide, you'll have the best chance of catching a glimpse of the Aye-aye.

About the Author

Marissa Ellis-Snow is a freelance nature writer. If you're looking for a Madagascar wildlife holiday , Naturetrek specialise in expert-led natural history and wildlife tours worldwide. Naturetrek bring over 25 years of experience to a Madagascar wildlife holiday and other spectacular regions on Earth.